Exercise caution about unseaworthy vessels: A V Ramana
New Mangalore Port Authority (NMPA) President A V Ramana has advised the Indian Coast Guard and the agents of cargo ships to exercise caution about unseaworthy vessels which seek help during emergencies in Indian or international maritime boundaries. He was speaking at a workshop on maritime emergencies, organized by NMPA at a private hotel in Mangaluru on Monday.
“Unseaworthy commercial vessels, without any fitness certificate, operated in the seas throughout the year. But when they face any trouble during inclement weather or cyclones they send emergency alert signals through local agents requesting entry to Indian ports. Our ports and government will be in trouble because of this. Many such ships sink in the middle of the sea during their journey. Our ports will face pollution, along with other problems, in these situations”, A V Ramana said.
He explained how other ships calling at the port will face problems when such unfit vessels sink in the middle of sea. Alleging that such unseaworthy ships get fitness certificates from those countries which have lenient laws, A V Ramana stated that they benefit from the loopholes in Indian legal system. “So when such vessels seek assistance during emergencies, ensure that they possess international insurance”, he added.
A V Ramana stated that “Directorate General of Shipping grants fitness certificates to commercial vessels in India. But all vessels need not get the certificate from the DG itself. The ships may get fitness certificate from countries with more lenient laws. Those who wish to make quick and illegal money get the fitness certificate from foreign countries”.
The NMPA president said that a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) had been brought out to assist ships in emergencies, which was also brought to the notice of Directorate General of Shipping, Additional Secretary for Shipping and District Disaster Management Authority. “This SOP will help avoid confusions and reduce pollution. It will also help us to stop unseaworthy vessels”, he said.
Assistant Conservator of Mormugao Port Authority Captain Manoj Joshi, Environmental Advisor to the Ministry of Port, Shipping and Waterways Dr R D Tripathi were the main speakers in the workshop.
Dakshina Kannada DC Mullai Muhilan, who inaugurated the event, said that development of port would complement local development. “Mangalore is a port city. All issues related to port connectivity will be resolved once the work on NH 75, which connects the city to the state capital, is completed. NMPA has come forward to partner with the work of a truck terminal in Mangaluru”, he added.
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Dharmasthala case: BJP demands narco test of witness complainant
Bengaluru: BJP MLC Kishore Kumar Puttur during the assembly session on Monday urged the government to conduct a narco analysis test on the anonymous witness complainant, who had claimed that hundreds of bodies were buried in the village.
Raising the issue during Zero Hour, he said that based on the complaint which alleged that human remains were buried at 13 locations near the Netravathi river in Dharmasthala, the state government had formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT). However, excavation at only the sixth identified site had yielded a male skeleton, while no evidence of bodies was found at other places despite the use of ground-penetrating radar (GPR).
Kishore Kumar noted that media reports had earlier mentioned that the Superintendent of Police had decided to subject the complainant to a narco test before proceeding further. “But till today, no such test has been conducted,” he pointed out.
He also questioned Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s decision to form the SIT in hurry. “Initially, the CM during media interaction had said there was no need for a special probe. But the very next day, he suddenly announced the SIT. This clearly shows that the government has succumbed to the pressure of Leftist forces with an anti-Hindu bias,” Kumar alleged.
